Miracles happened in the far distance of the past…so some believe. Miracles are myths that were impossible…so some believe. God surprised people in the past; He surprised the devil and is continuing to do so today. The factual history of God intervening in lives in the Old and New Testaments seems far removed today.
Yet, only God could have done such miraculous work through His messenger in the life of Zacharias. He did it through an angel and through His chosen people (Zacharias and Elizabeth). God used extraordinary means to deliver His message of salvation and He did it through an angel and the son of this righteous couple.
What a miraculous message…which is still impacting lives today ~ God continues to intervene in many lives today.
As you read the Scripture, put yourself in Zacharias’ place and think how you would react…
(NASB) Luke 1:11-12 “And an angel of the Lord appeared to him, standing to the right of the altar of incense.
12 Zaharias was troubled when he saw the angel, and fear gripped him.”
No one else was in the Holy Place, no one else was responsible to burn the incense…only Zacharias. Fear! Real fear! Scripture does not state how the angel was dressed or how big he was, but it states that Zacharias saw and feared!
What does Scripture say about what the angel said?
(NASB) Luke 1:13a “But the angel said to him, “˜Do not be afraid, Zacharias…”
The angel was a messenger from God and God’s message met the problem of Zacharias’ fear.
(NASB) Luke 1:13b-14 “…for your petition has been heard, and your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you will give him the name John.
14 You will have joy and gladness, and many will rejoice at his birth.”
What great news! Zacharias’ prayers were going to be answered.
(NASB) Luke 1:15-17 “For he will be great in the sight of the Lord; and he will drink no wine or liquor, and he will be filled with the Holy Spirit while yet in his mother’s womb.
16 And he will turn many of the sons of Israel back to the Lord their God.
17 It is he who will go as a forerunner before him in the spirit and power of Elijah, TO TURN THE HEARTS OF THE FATHERS BACK TO THE CHILDREN, and the disobedient to the attitude of the righteous, so as to make ready a people prepared for the Lord.”
What a miraculous message! Only God selected the parents of this messenger of Jesus Christ. Only God could tell what kind of person John would be and the message he would tell the people in Israel, preparing them for Messiah!
God’s message to us is miraculous…
listen and be prepared to meet Messiah!
How shall you pray as you think about this message
